30 Types of Photographers Exposed – Which One Are You?

All photographers are equal, but some photographers are more equal than others.

Jorge Aurwell

Do you often meet a doctor who will cure your teeth, examine your heart, make you fingernails look fine and then help you with your childhood psychological trauma?

Possible, but so not typical!

Again, if you get to know that a person is a photographer, do you expect him to be good at everything? Landscapes, fashion, pets and microphotography of cute bacteria in knitted hats?

That’s the problem with designers, photographers and IT specialists. Some people don’t understand that they might have different specializations.

Here’s a little list of photography niches, showing how different we all are, even though we all hold a photo camera on our Facebook avatars. Of course we don’t. Just kidding. Or do you? Come on, it’s bad taste.

1. Fashion Photographer

Fashion is a #1 source of wannabes. If you feel you’re Steven Meisel, but don’t know what flash sync speed means… You’re so not alone.

2. Landscape Photographer

A man behind the PC desktop wallpapers.

3. Wildlife Photographer

One who sits knee-deep in a swamp to get a close-up of a frog.

4. Aerial Photographer

It is when you really look down on other photographers.

5. Action / sports photographer

A man behind the posters in a tire fitting shop.

6. Pet Photographer

If you hate people and humanity in general, this is a dream job for you.

7. Event Photographer

It’s that guy with a camera poking about at you sister’s birthday.

8. Real Estate and Architecture Photographer

Another good option for sociopaths.

9. Astrophotographer

Those who think 200mm to be a wide angle lens.

10. Photojournalist

If you see one taking a picture of you… you’re probably an underpaid coal miner in a third world country. In best case.

11. Concert Photographer

A nightmare job for a settled studio photographer. Total lack of control over lighting, low light and a nasty crowd of fans (not your fans actually) shouting behind your back.

12. Macro Photographer

Those who show us how truly ugly the flies are. Even in dew drops. That’s even more horrible. Brrrr.

13. Medical Photographer

Very dangerous specialization. You might faint and drop your expensive camera during an operation.

14. Micro Photographer

May not be published in Vogue, but may contribute to saving your life some day.

15. School Photographer

Being one is as stressful as shooting pets, or concerts, or rather – pets’ concerts.

16. Baby Photographer

There are not too many male photographers doing this. Hmmm… Men are so hard-hearted.

George is a professional photographer who sells his photos online.
He focuses on both studio and outdoor photography, and also runs a photography blog you should definitely check out at backlightstories.com

31. Waffle Photography. Waffles are significant enough to be in their own group. waffles are very delicious and can be made in a number of ways. photographs of them are a site to behold. although good looking, waffles are VERY important to the well being of the universe because without them reality will collapse and all physics, logic, quantum mechanics, etc will cease to exist.

georgephotodoto

:)) Waffles are closely related to scientific photography, I should have illustrated #19 with a big crunchy waffle in infrared!

in the future i wanna be a travel photographer or fashion photographer

Dolly Torrejas

in the future i wanna be a travel photographer or fashion photographer still learning about photography

Blacc Jamiel Lyric

but you got great work !!

mohit Gyanchandani

I am looking to start my career as a travel photographer.

Mali

I have an avid interest in travel photography as well!

Emilie Hunt

Same. I always wanted to travel the world and capture it’s true beauty and I like fashion as well. I’m only 14 and I’m only in 8th grade and I’m still trying to discover who I am. Photography is my passion.

Victoria

Feel the same, I’m 15 and have passion for photography and really want to travel and see the world!

Salt Life Imagery

Having Trouble Deciding which one I am I like doing Nature Photos along with doing portraits have done some commercial photography as well. I need help with figuring out what type photography Business I have and how to explain it in a short speech. I have started my own Photography Business in Florida and Have to decide which to do I want to do Portraits and Such but Commercial and Nature still Pull me. I love being out doors and Dont know what the 3 main types of Photography there is Can you help? I know there is Commercial , Residential(portraits & Events) not sure what the 3rd one is or if I already do it :P

I’m more of a novice at # 2&3 and 12,thinking of doing 16 or 17, would love to do #19.Thanks for the article,pics good indicator of each category ;)

brooke

I’ve always wondered why the first “job” they want is to do a wedding, and a friend at that- nothing like messing up an important moment forever for a friend – then loosing the friend over a blurry pict lol Great article, funny but true – we’ve all gotten a great laugh out of it, and realized we’re a little of a lot of them :D

Jayme Beres

It’s really hard to pick just one, when I go to a show it’s concert photography (you nailed it with the lighting), when I travel there may be a wing shot over some misty looking mountain cloud type thingys followed by whatever the street food turns out to be. Basically if I find it interesting I shoot it. Now getting paid for that, doing what you love I really don’t think it could get much better.

Carol L. Watts

Yep – totally agree, Jayme. Know I’m 3 years late to this party, but truth is still truth, whenever get there, right?

Angelina

I hate a degree in photography but I don’t want to end up being a wedding photographer. I don’t know what to do :(

Very thought provoking read! If you want to make money with photography, check out http://WWW.PHOTOGRAPHYWORK.INFO – There are easy, step-by-step instructions that I used to earn money from my photography. Highly recommended to anyone who loves to take pictures while making some cash with the hobby! Earning money as a photographer isn’t impossible…I promise!

I can see 3-4 of those I really enjoy. Leaning towards photojournalism these days though. That and street. And erotic. Headsup: ‘Misanthrope’ might’ve fit better where ‘sociopath’ was used in #8 above.

Jon McGuffin

No “Product” photographers? Poor product guys get no love. This list is nice but missing quite a few disciplines while adding others that can be grouped with others.

raihanmazumder

great 30 names!

Brady Haws

What about all those pesky Tourist Photographers??? Their portfolio consists of random landmarks and historical buildings with a very awkward family in shorts and flipflops wearing socks in front of them…… and ugly Hawaiian shirts….. and hideous sun-brimmed hats….. and eating terrible, greasy fast food…… on second thought, im GLAD you chose not to add that type…. =D

I like taking pictures of unique things that I see as well as texture and patterns but I don’t know where I fit in on the list. For example, old barn doors, iron gates, windows, vintage things, etc. Any thoughts?

very nice article… what about fine art photographer, black and white, and also enthusiast photographer

Emilie Hunt

I’m only 14 and I have a passion for photography. i never knew there was so many different types of photographers! I always wanted to travel the world and capture its true beauty. I live in a small area with not much to see unless I’m in the city. I’ve been taking photos of nature and buildings so far but i really want to learn different was to capture things but yeah…

Victoria

I do a lot of nature photos like animals and sky, or anything in its natural habitat

Photography is my passion but still I’m armature on it. But I’m on track, I’m working with ‘PhotoTrims’ which is one of the best photo manipulation service provider.

Unknown Guy

10 common photography mistakes

Mistakes are usually an inevitable phase of learning. For many photographers, overcoming mistakes and ensuring high quality work is important. The following is a compilation of the 10 common photography mistakes and tips to help you resolve them. Correcting these mistakes will significantly enhance your photography skills.

1. Buying lots of photography gear simultaneously

This mistake of acquiring lots of new photography gear at once affects both seasoned photographers and beginners. However, new photographers generally think that buying the most new gear is going to make them the best photographers. Buying a new lens, flash or camera won’t make you better at this craft. Actually, the best photographers can easily capture great photos with just about any camera. What is more important is the creativity, technical knowledge and a keen eye for lighting that will transform you to a much better photographer. Obviously, this does not mean you should never buy new gear. Different gear is actually helpful in providing better resolution and more flexibility. Just remember to enhance your skills as the photographer using the gear.

2. Distorted horizon

You are in position capturing a breathtaking sunset with your latest camera. However, in the eagerness of capturing the perfect sunset, you forgot to ensure that to set the horizon level. As a result, all the sunset photos are crooked. Luckily, there is a simple way of fixing this issue of a misaligned horizon. Most of the photo editing software available can do this automatically or allow you to make the appropriate edits by angling the canvas to a horizontal position in a software like Photoshop or Lightroom. You should also turn on your camera’s electronic spirit level or virtual horizon when capturing the photo for better precision.

3. Wrong white balance

Do your photographs look too cool or too warm? This is a common mistake that is caused when the camera incorrectly assesses the white balance. While AWB (automatic white balance) can easily determine a suitable setting based on the situation, the best option of getting it right the first time is by setting your own white balance figure. By correcting this mistake, your photos will appear more natural and you won’t need to do lots of editing work later on.

4. Lens distortions

This particular mistake is common amongst beginners as they are more prone to using the wrong lenses. Some lenses make subjects appear warped, while some introduce some undesirable elements like the loss of brightness or color around the edges. The first way of resolving this mistake is choosing the right lens with a suitable focal length for your subject. There are some cameras that even apply corrections automatically as you capture JPEG images. However, it is most efficient and easiest to correct this mistake when editing the photo afterwards.

5. Image out of focus

Relying on autofocus is not recommended for any professional photographer. This is likely due to the fact that the camera sometimes gets it wrong. When this happens, you find that your images are focused on something in front of or behind your preferred subject. In order to make sure your camera chooses your preferred focus point, set focus mode as single point AF.

6. Blurred images

You have taken a great photo, but it is just not quite as sharp. This blurred image can be the result of various factors, like movement of the camera during exposure, wrong focus point or subject movement. Unless the blur is meant as an artistic effect, there are a number of ways you can ensure sharper photos. This includes increasing ISO sensitivity to roughly 1/80 second with a shutter speed of 1/125s so as to prevent shake and also using a tripod.

7. Photos look dark and dull

Sometimes your photographs can look darker than the real scene. This phenomenon is usually caused by your camera meter reading influencing the exposure of the light situation. The remedy to this mistake is quite simple and it is known as exposure compensation. You can set this value in automatic mode. Applying the exposure compensation will give your images more life.

8. Poor composition

Composition refers to the art of balancing an image to enrich the flow. The mistake that many photographers make is capturing a photo with the subject directly in the center, but it does not always create the most attractive image. A simple composition method that you can use is the principle of thirds. This is where you subdivide the photo into thirds, both horizontally and vertically using 2 lines. You then place your subject at the intersection point of the lines or along the lines, to create a more captivating image.

9. Too much editing

Good post-processing of photos is just about subtleness, improving instead of overpowering a photo. Too much HDR or excessive contrast can make your photos appear tasteless. Remember that each photo is unique, so it is important to use different effects and filters based on what the photo requires. For instance, increasing saturation properties on landscape photos may look amazing, but doing the same effects on portrait photos will be quite unflattering.

10. Overlooking the basics of photography

This is the final major mistake that photographers make today. After learning all the right skills like focus, composition and exposure, you should not forget the simple basics of photography. This includes things like charging your batteries, carrying spares, backing up memory cards and ensuring you have all your gear before heading out to an event. Lastly, remember to always remove the lens cap once you start taking photos. You will be surprised to know that this mistake still happens to experienced photographers.

Conclusion

Photography is very enjoyable and rewarding. Just remember not to be scared of getting in close to your subject, as is the case with most beginners. Try numerous perspectives like climbing up a tree or lying on the ground to get a great perspective. Once you implement the above solutions and enhance your skills, you will be able to improve your photography quality.

I am a real estate photographer, but not a sociopath, really :). Homes are where I make my money, but nature and travel is my joy. And I love texture, and light.

Stacy F

I do whatever to help pay the bills, does that make me a photo prostitute? I LOVE the sand, surf and sunsets when I go to Florida every about once a year. I really want to do Europe, especially Italy.

frances

this is really nice i like it so much i want to be just like yous

Roman

Very funny article. Though
i think i disagree. I know that majority of established photographers tend to
be style specific or ‘more successful within one particular style’. This doesn’t
mean that skillsets and knowledge is not entangled throughout all the types of
photography, however distant, and that the artist can’t be a nature
photographer as well as wildlife photographer. After the essential basics of
photography are (dare I say) ‘Mastered’ the primary differences between these
styles lay within the Equipment limits and perhaps ones limited knowledge on
the technicalities of the equipment or even techniques. Generally I don’t believe
that photography styles are broken down as deep as this article portrays,
though of course there will always be people who manage to only get hired for
horse photography but I don’t see why that isn’t just wildlife photography, is
it because they tend to get hired by stables or a racing track?

Don’t you guys think that some of these (along with many unmentioned) styles
could easily be collapsed together. Besides I’ve never met a photographer who sees
a picture only in the trees, or salty water. My personal filter is always on,
for every type of photography. I can’t help it. But still I favor nature,
wildlife and macro, which include but are never limited to volcanoes, horses,
insects, landscapes, trees and underwater. For all
these styles I can use my crop sensor canon body, along with a few wide and
long lenses + macro extension tubes ring light and speed light and some other accessories.
I do fairly ok. High speed and studio photography has been catching my eye more
lately.

Ulrike Lakshmi Reinhold

love this witty blog. I happened to turn into a goddess photographer besides focussing on Yogis, fashion and frankly, what pays the bills and is not only doable but also nice for a change (Villas, the odd wedding, portraits of couples…). So how did this whole goddess thing happen? I captured a Yoga teacher who actually did not rally want to go too much direction Yoga, we incorporated some postures but would also alter and play with rose petals, movement, etc. Afterwards I had a few instant bookings and it kind of spread in the community and Yoga world I am in…. This is actually a blessing since I really do love to tune into the feminine energy, be playful and spontaneous with the woman I am capturing… jobdescription in a nut shell: 1, 2 (usually with a Yogi in front), and sometimes 7, 8, 28

Pathetic. All this time you spent mocking photographers and call them unwarranted names, you could have been out taking better photos….

FYI: Food, Automotive, Architectural, Product photography are all part of the Advertising/Commercial genre. This article only perpetuates more confusion for those who are looking to call themselves photographers. No wonder no one is taking us seriously anymore.

Shameful that you choose to mock photography rather than support it. #fail